Hardening apparatus



April 5, 1932. F. E. MOCLEARY ET AL HARDENING APPARATUS Filed April 26, 1930 I I IHHHHHHHIH H PHHHHHHHHHHHHHM w% v .i {LII} llwillulhw llllllllll lirmnqlnnu I- I. x iza x :s a N W 2 I x "U Mn N m WWW Q w 5 x MRMM v. T A m N B M 5% A o .R T W M T M A v F Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES FRED E. MGCLEARY, F DETROIT, KURT C. BAIBO, OF CLAWSON, AND HARRY RAYNER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO CHRYSLER CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A GORPORATIGN OF DELAWARE PATENT OFFICE I-IARDENING ABPARATUS Application filed April 26,

are formed.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a tempering apparatus for harden-. ing the top wall of a cylinder block casting so as to produce hardened valve seats which will withstand deformation by the pounding action of the valve heads to which the seats are normally subjected; to provide an apparatus of this kind by which selected portions of castings are suddenly cooled immediately after the castings are removed from their molds so as to utilize the heat remaining therein after the metal has solidified to provide means for progressively moving cast articles into a related proximity with successive outlets of cooling medium blasting apparatus; and to provide regulating mechanism in apparatus of this kind for individually varying the flow of the cooling medium through each of the outlets and collectively varying the supply of cooling medium to groups of outlets.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly in section, of our improved appara tus for hardening selected portions of cast articles.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the form shown, the apparatus comprises a floor or base part 1 on the respectively opposite sides of one end portion of which are mounted pairs of vertical supports 2, 3 and 4. The upper ends of each pair of sup ports 2, 3 and 4, are joined together by transverse angle bars 5, 6 and 7 respectively, on which are mounted spaced longitudinal angle bars 8 and 9. This construction forms a sub stantially rectangular frame for supporting at one end a motor 10 and at the other enda blower 11. The blower has a casing 12 which is riveted at 13 to the longitudinal bars 8 1930. Serial No. 447,722.

and 9. A belt 14 is provided for drivingthe rotor 15 of the blower 1 1.

Mounted on the opposite end of the base 1 is a U-shaped support 16 to which one end of v a central longitudinally extending beam 17 of T-shaped cross section is secured by brackets 18. Theother end of the centralbeam 17 is secured by brackets 18 to the transverse angle bar 5 of the rectangular frame struc-- ture.

Communicating with the casing 11 of the blower is a tapered conduit 19 which extends longitudinally of the above structure and is suspended by U-shaped straps 20 from the central beam 17 The conduit 19 has a plurality of spaced downwardly extending outlet pipes 21 in which valves 22 are mounted and the conduit 19 is provided with spaced valves 23 by which the discharge of the cooling medium from groups of the outlet pipes 21 may be regulated. The valves 22 in the outlet pipes permit-independent regulation of the discharge of cooling medium from each outlet. 1

A conveyor having an endless belt 24 is mounted between the side supports 2, 3 and 4 and the legs of the U-shap'ed end support 16 directly below the outlets 21 of the conduit 19. The belt 24 is mounted on rollers 25 and 26 which are journaled on upright plates 27 and 28 rigidly mounted on thebase 1.- Driving mechanism, not shown, is provided for moving the top layer of the endless belt 24 in the direction indicated by the arrow 29. A

similar conveyor having an endless belt 30 the metal is poured thereinto during continuous operation of the conveyors. After the metal is solidified the rigid structure of the molds and the sand is removed by convenj tional means and the castings are moved along at a suitable rate of speed so as to pass them under the outlet pipes 21 before their temperature has fallen below the critical temperature of the metal of which they are formed. The blasts of cooling medium to which the castings, or cylinder blocks shown in the illustration, are successively subjected 5 are directed upon the top wall of the cylinder blocks so as to harden the material thereof in which the valve seats are subsequently formed. This chilling action hardens the portions of the block which are subjected to violent pounding during operation of an engine without making the body of the structure hard and brittle.

Air may be used as a cooling medium and if desired, atomized oil or water may be mixed with the air current and sprayed upon the castings together with the air current. In some instances where a less rapid rate of cooling is desired, steam may be used as a cooling medium either alone or in conjunction with air and atomized oil. The rate of discharge of the cooling medium may be proportioned in accordance with the size and quantity of metal in the castings either by individual control of the cooling medium outlets or by collective control of selected groups of such outlets.

Although but one specific embodiment of our invention is shown, illustrating a hardening operation on cylinder blocks, it is understood that-the method and apparatus is adapted for the heat treatment of cast articles of various typesand that various changes including the size, shape and arrangement of parts of the apparatus may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention, and it is not our intention to limit its scope other than by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for hardening selected portionsof castings comprising a conveyor for moving a plurality of castings in a predetermined path, supporting structure adjacent said conveyor, a blower mounted on said supporting structure having an outlet spout eX tending longitudinally of said predetermined path, and a plurality of spaced outlet pipes each communicating at one end with said spout and having a discharge end for directing blasts of cooling medium on said castings.

2. Apparatus for hardening selected portions of castings comprising a conveyor for moving a plurality of castings in a predetermined path, supporting structure adjacent said conveyor, a blower mounted on said supporting structure having an outlet spout extending longitudinally of said predetermined path, a plurality of spaced outlet pipes each communicating at one end with said spout a d having a discharge end for directing bl sts of cooling medium on said castings, anld a valve in each of said outlet pipes for regulating the discharge of cooling medium therefrom. v 65 3. Apparatus for hardening selected portions of castings comprising a conveyor for moving a plurality of castings in a predetermined path, supporting structure adjacent said conveyor, a blower mounted on said sup porting structure having an outlet spout extending longitudinally of said predetermined path, a plurality of spaced outlet pipes each communicating at one end with said spout and having a discharge end for directing blasts of cooling medium on said castings, a valve in each of said outlet pipes for regulating the discharge of cooling medium therefrom, and valves in said spout for collectively controlling the discharge of cooling medium from groups of said outlet pipes. V

4. In a device of the class described, a base portion, a supporting frame thereon, a blower mounted on said frame having an outlet spout extending longitudinally of said frame, longitudinally spaced outlet pipes communicating with said spout, and conveying mechanism on said base portion located below said spout and extending in advance at one end thereof for supporting castings during the removal of molds therefrom, and forcing said castings below the discharge ends of said outlet pipes and before the temperature of the castings has fallen substantially below the critical temperature of the material of which they are formed.

FRED E. M GLEARY.

KURT C. BABO.

HARRY RAYNER. 

